Fence-post



UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

JOSEPH BURNS, OF MONTE-ZUMA, INDIANA.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,889,:iated March 2, 1886.

Application filed September 19, IP85. Serial No. 171,5 9.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J osnrn Bonus, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montezuma, in the county of Parke and State of In,- diana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention has relation to improvements in fence-posts; and the novelty consists in the peculiar construction, combination, and arrangement of the various parts for service, substantially as hereinafter fully-set forth,and particularly pointed out in the claim.

The object of my invention is to provide a fence post which shall not be liable to decay or rot in the earth, which shall be simple, strong, and durable in construction, and cheap of manufacture.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective-view of my improved base detached from the post. Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the post. Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section, of the base and post connected together.

Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several figures of the annexed drawings, referring to which- A designates a post, and B the base thereof, detachably fitted and connected together, as will presently more fully appear.

The base B is made of fire-clay, terracotta, vitrified earth, or other suitable non-destructible earthen substance reduced to a very hard state. The upper end of the base is made rectangular in cross-section for a portion of its length, as at b, and one of the side faces thereof is inclined or cutaway at a sloping angle, as at b, to a point near its lower end, as clearly shown. The upperrectangular portion, b, of the base is provided with a seat or opening, 0, of circular form to receive the lower end of a cylindrical or tubular post, A, which is secured therein against displacement by a through-bolt, D, passing through apertures d d in the base and post, and having a head and nut, d 11 respectively, which bear on opposite faces of the base, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The base B is planted in the earth to a point where the incline or beveled portion b thereof commences, as shown in Fig. 1, and is provided with drain-hole e, arranged (No model.)

in one or both faces thereof to permit'the wa ter and moisture to escape therefrom, and from the central socket or hole for the reception of the post.

The post A comprises two semicircular pieces or sections, E E, (shown in Figs. 2and 3,) the flat or plane portions of which are fitted t0- gether,and provided with transverse recessed or cut-away portions 6', which coincide or register with each other when the posts are fitted together to provide transverse openings, through which a fence'wire may pass and be thnssupported independent of any other fastening device.

D designates a bolt passing through the upper end of the base and the lower end of the post which is seated in the socket in said base, the outer threaded end of the bolt receiving a fastening-nut, d, that clamps the base and post together. A. firm and secure locking means is thus provided for holding the post from either lateral or longitudinal movement, and a fence-post is provided which is simple,strong, and durable, and which can be manufactured very cheaply, the post being held in a durable non-destructible base and out of contact with the earth.

In order to define the nature and scope of my invention, I would state that heretofore it has been proposed to providea fence'post made in two sections,which are pivotally connected together at their upper ends, and along their vertical edges have slots, each of which comprises a horizontal and a downwardly-sloping arm, and when the sections of the post are brought together these arms of the slots register and clamp a fence-wire.

It is difficult to properly fit a fence-wire in the horizontal and inclined arms of the registering slots of each section of the post.

In my improved fence-post I employ two semicircular or curved post-sections, the meeting faces of which are made plane or straight, and are provided with transverse recesses spaced apart at a proper distance, whereby when the post-sections are brought together the recesses in the meeting plane faces thereof register, so as to provide a socket or opening of a diameter equal to that of the fence-wire to be clamped therein. The meeting plane faces of the post-sections fit tightly together and securely clamp the wire in the sockets provided therefor. The post is of a diameter and shape corresponding to that of the socket provided for the reception of the lower end thereof in a non-destructiblebase. Thepost thusfitssnugly in its socket in the base, and is secured against displacement by means of a bolt and nut, the bolt passing through the base and lower end of the post. The wires are clamped and held in their positions in their sockets by reason of the close contact of the meeting faces of the -.post-sections, and the sections of the post are securely held together without fastening de vices at their upperends by fitting tightly and snugly in the socket of the base and the bolt and nut.

I am also aware that it is not new to detachably secure a fence-post to a metallic base by means of a through-bolt and nut, and hence I disclaim such broad feature of construction.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of a base, B, having an open socket, c, in its upper end and a bolthole, d, a detachable post snugly fitted at its lower end in said socket and made in two longi tudinal sections,each section having a curved outer face, and a flat inner face provided with transverse recesses which register and provide a socket for holding the fence-wire there in when the flat faces thereof are brought together, said sections having aligned openings (1 at their lower ends. which register with the opening d of the base, and a transverse bolt, D, passing through the openings d d of the base and post and having a nut for securing them together, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, JOSEPH BURNS.

Witnesses:

I. E. DONALDSON, THOMAS GRIFFITH. 

